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Object 2011365B

Saucer

China

c.1720-1740

Height 24 mm (0.94 inch), diameter of rim 139 mm (5.47 inch), diameter of footring 75 mm (2.95 inch), weight 151 grams (5.33 ounce (oz.))

Saucer on footring with straight rim with slightly flaring edge. Chinese Imari, decorated in underglaze blue, iron-red and gold with in the centre a roundel filled with a single flower spray on the sides and rim flowering peonies alternating with double headed eagles.

In 1565, the Philippine Islands were conquered by an expedition that included six Spanish Augustinian friars under the supervision of Father Andres de Urdaneta, who established several missions in the Archipelago. According to Augustinian sources, after the discovery of the Holy Child of Cebu (an image thought to be miraculous), King Philip II of Spain (1556-98), granted the privilege to the Augustinians of the Philippine Islands to make use of his ensign, the double headed eagle from the Hapsburg in their emblem. (Welsh 2003, p.18)

The double headed eagle is the emblem of the Spanish Catholic Order of St. Augustine and it is very likely that this saucer, as part of a chocolate beaker and cover set was ordered by the Augustinian Fathers.

An article in The Oriental Ceramic Society of the Philippine, June 2007 on The Pacific route of Ceramic trade: the Commercial Flow of Oriental Ceramics between Asia and Latin America by Etsuko Miyata and Risuko Yajima, focusses on their findings of the study about Chinese ceramics traded through galleons via Manila to the New World (Mexico) in the 16th-19th centuries. The research was conduted in Zócalo area, Mexico City in 2006. The excavated pieces dated from the late Jiajing period (1522-1566) to the 18th century. Amongst the 18th century objects excavated was a sherd of an overglaze bowl (read beaker) with a double headed-eagle drawn on the exterior wall. Special orders with emblems by the Portuguese Kings, nobles, and religious orders are known from the 15th century, some of which can be seen among the Portuguese collection today. This emblem probably depicts that of Hapsburg (1510-1700) or the Augustinian order, though in any case, it dates back to the early 18th century at the latest. (The Oriental Ceramic Society of the Philippines, June 2007)

For other objects decorated with the double headed eagle emblem of the Spanish Catholic Order of St. Augustine, please see:

Cocoa was first brought to Europe by the Spaniards from Mexico in the 1st half of the 16th century. From Spain the cocoa beans were traded to Italy and The Netherlands, First used as a medicine, later at the end of the 17th century it was consumed as a pleasure drink. (Jörg & Van Campen 1997, p.116)

Condition: Two firing flaws and a frit to the rim.

References:

Jörg & Van Campen 1997, cat. 117

Mudge 2000, cat. 5o & 52

Welsh 2003, cat. 1

The Oriental Ceramic Society of the Philippines, June 2007

Price: Sold.